Published: Friday, February 15, 2013 at 3:15 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.

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But as the two men, dressed in suits and ties, knocked on the stranger's door, no one answered.

Not after the first knock, or the second.

The young, sharp-dressed Mormon missionaries — Elder Taylor Allred and Elder Kyle Gemmell — eventually turned, walked away from the home and made their way to the house next door to try again.

“That happens a lot,” Allred said. “Only about three out of every 10 houses actually open the door for us, even when they are obviously home.”

According to mormon.org, there are more than 50,000 Mormon missionaries serving across the world today.

The missionaries are required to be at least 19 years of age and voluntarily put aside school, work and dating for about two years in order to serve the Lord at their own expense.

“That's the hardest part,” Gemmell said. “Letting go of everything.”

Since becoming a missionary, Allred and Gemmell are no longer referred to by their first name. The name they go by, elder, symbolizes their role.

“We are set apart as missionaries, and we set everything aside to become a missionary,” Gemmell said. “With dropping everything, we take the title of elder.”

Dedicated to faith

On a recent Tuesday, Allred, 19, and Gemmell, 20, walked through a neighborhood off Union Street with the Book of Mormon clutched against their chests. Other literature and tracts were tucked away inside the pockets of their blazers, ready to be given out.

However, as they went door to door, only one house out of five opened up.

It was a man who told the two missionaries to get off his property and never knock on his door again.

“I don't come to your house and bother you — you don't bother me,” the man said before he shut the door in their faces.

Gemmell and Allred, despite the harsh words, wished the man a great day before walking away.

That's a common occurrence too, Allred said, referring to people closing a door on them or making rude comments.

He's said he's even experienced times when residents grab weapons such as guns and threaten to shoot.

But “failure isn't getting a door slammed in your face,” Allred adds. “Failure is quitting” after it happens.

Despite working in the Bible Belt, an area where Mormon followers comprise a small portion of the population, the men don't quit.

In fact, that may even motivate them to work harder.

The two men, who share an apartment with two other missionaries, wake up every morning at 6 a.m., study scripture and then get dressed. From 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week, they are out on the streets of Spartanburg spreading the word about their faith.

They do it all without pay and without a car.

“It's a huge commitment and takes perfect discipline,” said Gemmell, who has been a missionary for three months. “You definitely have to be dedicated.”

Barry Keller, a high counselor for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Upstate/Spartanburg, says the level of dedication is worth it.

He encourages all Mormons to take up mission work sometime during their life.

“I believe in Jesus Christ, and I believe the most important thing we can do in our lives is to share his gospel with other people,” he said. “You are challenged on what you believe every day. It's challenging everywhere. You have to find out for yourself if you truly believe.”

Allred and Gemmell travel by bike everywhere they go, often while dressed in a suit and tie. The bike saves money on gas, they say. The suit is worn because it helps them “better represent the Church of Jesus Christ,” they say.

Sometimes, they are met by dogs who give chase as they pedal through neighborhoods. Sometimes, biking presents an opportunity.

On Tuesday, while biking three miles from their apartment on Country Club Road to a neighborhood off Dogwood Club Road, Gemmell and Allred saw two older men sitting outside their apartment building.

They seized the opportunity.

“That's what is great about biking,” Gemmell said. “We get to talk to people who are outside. We couldn't do that as easily if we drove.”

They approached the men with the greeting: “We are here to share the love of Jesus Christ.”

They spoke for a while and invited the men to the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints, which has two chapels in Spartanburg County. The men, seated in plastic lawn chairs, said they might come.

Keller said the 10 Mormon congregations in the Upstate receive about 50 new members each year.

“We are growing,” he said.

Overall, 1,266 people in Spartanburg, out of a population of more than 37,000, identify themselves as Mormon.

In the state, there are 37,687 Mormons out of a population of 4,480,000, according to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 2013 Church Almanac.

Challenges in the South

Allred, who is from Utah, and Gemmell, a native of San Diego, said they have wanted to be missionaries since they were children.

“I grew up in the church,” Allred said. “It was something I've always wanted to be a part of.”

When they came of age, they filled out the paperwork and submitted their applications.

Those who wish to be missionaries apply online, with recommendations from church leaders. The applications are then sent to the church head in Salt Lake City for review. A few weeks later, after meeting with local and state leaders, the applicants are told where they will serve.

Gemmell said he worked three jobs to raise enough money before he started.

When they found out they would serve in Spartanburg, they said they were initially concerned about the challenges it could pose.

“We knew it wouldn't be easy,” Gemmell said. “We knew we'd see a lot of opposition. But one of the first things we are taught as missionaries is not to bash people. Always be friendly.”

Their job is just to share a message, they say.

Keller said many people in this area have misconceptions about the Mormon faith.

Here are some untrue statements he and missionaries often hear:

-- Mormons believe in a different Jesus.

-- Mormons don't believe the Bible.

“I love the Bible,” Keller said. “I read it and study it every day. In our sermons, we preach from it.”

-- Mormons belong to a cult.

Keller, seated inside in a chapel on a recent Monday, beneath a portrait of Jesus, said he has even heard people in the South refer to Mormons as “devil worshippers.”

He adds that one goal of the Mormon church is to build bridges between other churches of different faiths.

“We do not wish to tear down anyone's faith, we are simply here to build one another's faith in Jesus Christ,” he said. “I want people to understand this religion and break down some of the barriers.”

<p>A car was parked in the driveway. Lights were on inside the home.</p><p>But as the two men, dressed in suits and ties, knocked on the stranger's door, no one answered.</p><p>Not after the first knock, or the second.</p><p>The young, sharp-dressed Mormon missionaries — Elder Taylor Allred and Elder Kyle Gemmell — eventually turned, walked away from the home and made their way to the house next door to try again.</p><p>“That happens a lot,” Allred said. “Only about three out of every 10 houses actually open the door for us, even when they are obviously home.”</p><p>According to mormon.org, there are more than 50,000 Mormon missionaries serving across the world today.</p><p>The missionaries are required to be at least 19 years of age and voluntarily put aside school, work and dating for about two years in order to serve the Lord at their own expense.</p><p>“That's the hardest part,” Gemmell said. “Letting go of everything.”</p><p>Since becoming a missionary, Allred and Gemmell are no longer referred to by their first name. The name they go by, elder, symbolizes their role.</p><p>“We are set apart as missionaries, and we set everything aside to become a missionary,” Gemmell said. “With dropping everything, we take the title of elder.”</p><h3>Dedicated to faith</h3>
<p>On a recent Tuesday, Allred, 19, and Gemmell, 20, walked through a neighborhood off Union Street with the Book of Mormon clutched against their chests. Other literature and tracts were tucked away inside the pockets of their blazers, ready to be given out.</p><p>However, as they went door to door, only one house out of five opened up.</p><p>It was a man who told the two missionaries to get off his property and never knock on his door again.</p><p>“I don't come to your house and bother you — you don't bother me,” the man said before he shut the door in their faces.</p><p>Gemmell and Allred, despite the harsh words, wished the man a great day before walking away.</p><p>That's a common occurrence too, Allred said, referring to people closing a door on them or making rude comments.</p><p>He's said he's even experienced times when residents grab weapons such as guns and threaten to shoot.</p><p>But “failure isn't getting a door slammed in your face,” Allred adds. “Failure is quitting” after it happens.</p><p>Despite working in the Bible Belt, an area where Mormon followers comprise a small portion of the population, the men don't quit.</p><p>In fact, that may even motivate them to work harder.</p><p>The two men, who share an apartment with two other missionaries, wake up every morning at 6 a.m., study scripture and then get dressed. From 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week, they are out on the streets of Spartanburg spreading the word about their faith.</p><p>They do it all without pay and without a car.</p><p>“It's a huge commitment and takes perfect discipline,” said Gemmell, who has been a missionary for three months. “You definitely have to be dedicated.”</p><p>Barry Keller, a high counselor for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Upstate/Spartanburg, says the level of dedication is worth it.</p><p>He encourages all Mormons to take up mission work sometime during their life.</p><p>“I believe in Jesus Christ, and I believe the most important thing we can do in our lives is to share his gospel with other people,” he said. “You are challenged on what you believe every day. It's challenging everywhere. You have to find out for yourself if you truly believe.”</p><p>Allred and Gemmell travel by bike everywhere they go, often while dressed in a suit and tie. The bike saves money on gas, they say. The suit is worn because it helps them “better represent the Church of Jesus Christ,” they say.</p><p>Sometimes, they are met by dogs who give chase as they pedal through neighborhoods. Sometimes, biking presents an opportunity.</p><p>On Tuesday, while biking three miles from their apartment on Country Club Road to a neighborhood off Dogwood Club Road, Gemmell and Allred saw two older men sitting outside their apartment building.</p><p>They seized the opportunity.</p><p>“That's what is great about biking,” Gemmell said. “We get to talk to people who are outside. We couldn't do that as easily if we drove.”</p><p>They approached the men with the greeting: “We are here to share the love of Jesus Christ.”</p><p>They spoke for a while and invited the men to the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints, which has two chapels in Spartanburg County. The men, seated in plastic lawn chairs, said they might come.</p><p>Keller said the 10 Mormon congregations in the Upstate receive about 50 new members each year.</p><p>“We are growing,” he said.</p><p>Overall, 1,266 people in Spartanburg, out of a population of more than 37,000, identify themselves as Mormon.</p><p>In the state, there are 37,687 Mormons out of a population of 4,480,000, according to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 2013 Church Almanac.</p><h3>Challenges in the South</h3>
<p>Allred, who is from Utah, and Gemmell, a native of San Diego, said they have wanted to be missionaries since they were children.</p><p>“I grew up in the church,” Allred said. “It was something I've always wanted to be a part of.”</p><p>When they came of age, they filled out the paperwork and submitted their applications.</p><p>Those who wish to be missionaries apply online, with recommendations from church leaders. The applications are then sent to the church head in Salt Lake City for review. A few weeks later, after meeting with local and state leaders, the applicants are told where they will serve.</p><p>Gemmell said he worked three jobs to raise enough money before he started.</p><p>When they found out they would serve in Spartanburg, they said they were initially concerned about the challenges it could pose.</p><p>“We knew it wouldn't be easy,” Gemmell said. “We knew we'd see a lot of opposition. But one of the first things we are taught as missionaries is not to bash people. Always be friendly.”</p><p>Their job is just to share a message, they say.</p><p>Keller said many people in this area have misconceptions about the Mormon faith.</p><p>Here are some untrue statements he and missionaries often hear:</p><p>-- Mormons believe in a different Jesus.</p><p>-- Mormons don't believe the Bible.</p><p>“I love the Bible,” Keller said. “I read it and study it every day. In our sermons, we preach from it.”</p><p>-- Mormons belong to a cult.</p><p>Keller, seated inside in a chapel on a recent Monday, beneath a portrait of Jesus, said he has even heard people in the South refer to Mormons as “devil worshippers.”</p><p>He adds that one goal of the Mormon church is to build bridges between other churches of different faiths.</p><p>“We do not wish to tear down anyone's faith, we are simply here to build one another's faith in Jesus Christ,” he said. “I want people to understand this religion and break down some of the barriers.”</p>